Agile Champion: How I used Agile to become a World Champion

???? Sarah's Agile Journey Begins

In a recent Meetup event hosted by MaxAgility Corporation, Sarah Wills, our Vice President of Sales and Recruiting, took the stage to share an inspiring journey that transcends the boundaries of technology and sports. Sarah, a soon-to-be purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Master, detailed how she leveraged Agile methodologies to achieve athletic transformation, overcoming severe performance anxiety to become a world champion in her division for CXBJJ.

?????♀? The Start of an Extraordinary Transformation

Sarah's journey began in 2018 when she weighed 270 pounds and had no background in sports. She was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art known as the 'gentle art,' which focuses on taking the fight to the ground and applying chokeholds or joint locks to defeat an opponent. Intrigued by the sport's philosophy and the challenges it presented, Sarah decided to apply Agile principles to her training regimen.

??????? Kaizen: The Path of Continuous Improvement

One of the first Agile principles she applied was Kaizen, which means continuous improvement in Japanese. Sarah emphasized that in both Agile and BJJ, the focus is on incremental gains. She began by setting small, achievable goals for herself, like losing weight, improving her diet and mindset, and mastering basic BJJ techniques. Over time, these small gains added up, and Sarah lost 100 pounds, attributing this incredible transformation to her focus on continuous improvement.

???? A Shift in Mindset: Learning Over Winning

Another Agile principle that Sarah applied to her BJJ journey was the importance of mindset. She shifted her focus from winning medals to skill acquisition. "In Agile, we talk about delivering value. In BJJ, the value is in the skills you acquire, not just the medals you win," Sarah explained. This shift in mindset allowed her to approach her training and competitions with a new perspective, focusing on learning and growing rather than just winning.

???? Retrospectives and Sprint Planning in BJJ

Sarah also spoke about the importance of retrospectives and sprint planning in her training regimen. After each competition, she would sit down with her coaches and review footage, identifying what went well and what needed improvement. This is akin to the retrospective meetings in Agile, where teams reflect on the past sprint and plan for the next one. Sarah would then use these insights to plan her next 'sprint,' which in her case was her training regimen for the next competition. She adjusted her training patterns, focusing on areas that needed improvement, much like how Agile teams prioritize their work based on customer feedback and business value.

??? The Power of Sustainable Pace

One of the most striking aspects of Sarah's presentation was her emphasis on sustainable pace. "In Agile, we talk about sustainable development, where sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely. The same applies to sports," she said. Sarah found that when she trained less but more efficiently, focusing on quality over quantity, she performed better in competitions. Focusing on recovery brought great returns.

?? Sarah's Remarkable Achievements

Sarah's achievements are a testament to the effectiveness of her approach. She is a multiple-time IBJJF PanAmerican medalist, 14-time open IBJJF gold medalist, and four-time Toro Cup Champion. She has medaled over 62 times in the last four years. She has also qualified to represent the USA for the NACJJF and took silver in the ASF Sambo Open Nationals. But for Sarah, the journey doesn't stop here. "Agile is about responding to change, and so is life. I will continue to apply these principles as I aim for higher goals inside and out of the sport." she concluded.

???? Enthusiastic Reception and Curiosity

The presentation was met with enthusiastic applause and a flurry of questions from the audience, ranging from how to apply Agile principles in other areas of life to the specifics of her training regimen. Sarah's story is not just an example of how Agile can be applied outside of software development; it's a testament to the transformative power of an Agile mindset.

?????? Universal Applicability of Agile Principles

In summary, Sarah Wills has shown us that the principles of Agile—continuous improvement, adaptability, and a focus on delivering value—are universally applicable. Whether you are a software developer, a project manager, or an athlete, these principles can guide you towards achieving your goals, however lofty they may be.

You can watch the replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEWILTTR1Ak